FMH

3rd SS-Pzgr.Reg. Deutschland

2. SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich was formed Oct 1939 from the Deutschland, Germania and Der Führer regiments of the  SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) . The regiment Germania was removed from the division in 1940 to form the Wiking division.

It took part in the campaign in the west 1940 and after spending some time guarding the border with Vichy France it was transferred to the Netherlands. It took part in the campaign in the Balkans where a small detachment led by SS-Hauptsturmführer Klingenberg managed to get the mayor of Belgrade to surrender the city without a fight.

Das Reich took part in the invasion of the USSR and fought on the frontlines until Aug when it was withdrawn from refitting. It was sent back to the front Sep and a few months later it took part in the failed offensive against Moscow. It was transferred to France Mar 1942, with the exeption of a small Kampfgruppe, where it was upgraded to a Panzergrenadier Division. It was sent back to the Eastern front Jan 1943 where it took part in the capture and recapture of Kharkov as well as fighting at Kursk.

Das Reich was transferred back to France, this time to be upgraded to a Panzer Division, and was sent to Normany when the Allies invaded. It took part in the heavy fighting in Normandy before retreating into Germany. It later took part in the fighting in the Ardennes, Hungary and Austria.

Albert Kerscher spoke about the fighting in Hungary after the war:

Hungary was important to Germany strategically; all of us understood this fact. The Soviets were pouring in millions of men and thousands of tanks and guns, and in my battalion alone we had only twelve tanks. The greatest problem for us was of course the Red Army, but they were increasing their forces with partisans every step forward. We were just as concerned with our fuel and supplies getting through the partisans in our rear as we were the massive attacks we faced from the front. This problem increased the closer the Soviets came to Budapest. We could just not kill enough or destroy enough of their hardware to make a dent in the flood. We were losing, and it was just a matter of time.

 

Before surrendering to the US Army, elements of Das Reich helped large numbers of civilians in Prague escape the Red Army.

On May 9 1945 this message was sent to the divisional HQ:

The Regiment "Deutschland" - now completely cut off, without supplies, with losses of 70 % in personnel and equipment, at the end of its strength - must capitulate. Tomorrow the regiment will march into captivity with all heads held high. The regiment which had the honor of bearing the name "Deutschland" is now signing off.

Commanders
SS-Oberstgruppenführer Paul Hausser	(19 Oct 1939 - 14 Oct 1941)
SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich	(14 Oct 1941 - 31 Dec 1941)
SS-Obergruppenführer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp	(31 Dec 1941 - 19 Apr 1942)
SS-Obergruppenführer George Keppler	(19 Apr 1942 - 10 Feb 1943)
SS-Brigadeführer Hebert-Ernst Vahl	(10 Feb 1943 - 18 Mar 1943)
SS-Oberführer Kurt Brasack	(18 Mar 1943 - 29 Mar 1943)
SS-Obergruppenführer Walter Krüger	(29 Mar 1943 - 23 Oct 1943)
SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding	(23 Oct 1943 - 24 July 1944)
SS-Standartenführer Christian Tychsen	(24 July 1944 - 28 July 1944)
SS-Brigadeführer Otto Baum	(28 July 1944 - 23 Oct 1944)
SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding	(23 Oct 1944 - 20 Jan 1945)
SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz	(20 Jan 1945 - 29 Jan 1945)
SS-Gruppenführer Werner Ostendorff	(29 Jan 1945 - 9 Mar 1945) (3)
SS-Standartenführer Rudolf Lehmann	(9 Mar 1945 - 13 Apr 1945)
SS-Standartenführer Karl Kreutz	(13 Apr 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Chief of Staff
SS-Standartenführer Werner Ostendorff	(1 Apr 1940 - 31 May 1942)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Schultz	(31 May 1942 - 22 May 1943)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Georg Maier	(23 May 1943 - ? June 1943)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Peter Sommer	(20 June 1943 - 17 Jan 1944)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Albert Stückler	(18 Jan 1944 - ? Feb 1945)
SS-Sturmbannführer Reinhardt Wörner	(1 Mar 1945 - ? Mar 1945)
SS-Sturmbannführer Ralf Riemann	(? Mar 1945 - 30 Apr 1945)
Major Joachim Schiller	(1 May 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Quartermaster
SS-Sturmbannführer Günther Ecke	(1 Apr 1940 - 30 Nov 1940)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Eugen Kunstmann	(1 Dec 1940 - 21 Dec 1940)
SS-Standartenführer Heinz Fansau	(21 Dec 1940 - ? Jan 1941)
SS-Haupsturmführer Eugen Kunstmann	(? Jan 1941 - ? 1942)
SS-Sturmbannführer Alfred Jantseh	(1 Mar 1942 - 10 Aug 1942)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Steinbeck	(9 Nov 1942 - ? 1943)
SS-Sturmbannführer Heino von Goldacker	(31 July 1943 - 1 Mar 1945)

Area of operations
Czechoslovakia & Germany	(Oct 1939 - May 1940)
Netherlands & France	(May 1940 - Apr 1941)
Romania, Yugoslavia, Austria & Poland	(Apr 1941 - June 1941)
Eastern front, central sector	(June 1941 -June 1942)
Germany	(June 1942 - July 1942)
France	(July 1942 - Jan 1943)
Eastern front, central sector	(Jan 1943 - Feb 1944)
France, Belgium & Western Germany	(Feb 1944 - Dec 1944)
Ardennes	(Dec 1944 - Jan 1945)
Hungary & Austria	(Jan 1945 - May 1945)

Manpower strength
June 1941	19.021
Dec 1942	17.112
Dec 1943	14.095
June 1944	20.184
Dec 1944	18.000

Honor titles
The title “Das Reich” (“The Reich”) is self-explanatory. Originally formed in 1939 as the SS-Verfügungstruppe-Division (mot.), the unit’s designation was soon shortened to SS-Verfügungsdivision. Its initial honor title was SS-Division “Deutschland”, but this was abolished after roughly one month as it caused too much confusion with the already-existing regiment of the same name, which was part of this division. Thus, the new honor title “Reich” was introduced, with the later addition of the definite article “Das”.

 

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Close Comabt Clasp in Gold (28)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief Arrmy  (12)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (2)
  Hess, Max, 01.05.1944 (484), SS-Rottenführer, 4./SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. Das Reich
  Reimann, Otto, 01.05.1944 (494), SS-Hauptsturmführer, 2./SS-Flak-Abt. Das Reich
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (156)
Holders of the German Corss in Silver (12)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (33)
Holders of the Knight´s Cross (90, including 15 unofficial/unconfirmed)
Holders of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords (2)
  Ennsberger, Alois, 28.11.1943, SS-Hauptsturmführer, TFK im I./Pz.Rgt. 2
  Huss, Fritz, 10.11.1944, SS-Obersturmführer, TFK u. Chef 2./SS-Pz.Instandsetzungs-Abt. 2

 

Insignia

 

The "Deutschland" cuff title was authorized for SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 Deutschland Nov 1935. They also wore a "D" on their shoulder boards.

The "Germania" cuff title was authorized for SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 Germania Sep 1936. They also wore a "G" on their shoulder boards.

The "Langemarck" cuff title was authorized for SS-Infanterie Regiment 4 Langemarck.

 

The "Der Führer" cuff title was authorized for SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 4 Der Führer Sep 1938. They also wore a "DF" on their shoulder boards.

The "Das Reich" cuff title was authorized for this unit 1 Sep 1942.